Elasto-plastic stability of single-layer reticulated shells with aluminium alloy gusset joints

The single-layer reticulated shell with aluminium alloy gusset (AAG) joints is an innovative space structure system, and has been widely used in the building engineering. According to the bending behaviour of AAG joints obtained from the theoretical formulae, the finite element (FE) models of K6 AAG joint shells were established in the ANSYS program. The buckling performance of K6 shells with semi-rigid and rigid joints was discussed. It is indicated that the semi-rigid behaviour of AAG joints had a significant effect on the buckling performance of K6 shells. To develop a further understanding, parametric studies were performed, varying the span-to-thickness ratio, height-to-span ratio, ring, member section, joint bending behaviour, joint stiffness model, material property, load distribution, support condition and initial geometric imperfection. It is found that the effects of these parameters on the elasto-plastic stability of K6 shells with rigid and AAG joints were different obviously. At last, to predict the elasto-plastic buckling load of AAG joint shells, theoretical formulae were proposed on the basis of the FE results of more than 8000 shell models.